Mt. Massive Attack!!!

This is the write up of the second day of our UpaDowna weekend for the first day check the Monarch Crest Trail ride post.

Fortunately UpaDowna member UTM was on it and had selected a high side camp spot for all of us to camp in just a few miles from the Massive TH, just outside of Leadville, CO. Once we arrived we made short work of establishing camp, by gathering fire wood and setting up a hasty rain shelter for the pending rains. I think everyone would be in agreement that we were thankful for the shelter when the clouds opened up! The only bummer about this site was that apparently our neighbors (somewhere in the distance) decided that Saturday night would be a great time to have a bass blasting rager and we had to deal with the constant thump of their radio. I assume it was because they were afraid of the dark and were trying to scare off the demons. LAME ASS S.O.B.’s!!!

Well after finally getting some shut eye UTM and I drove into town at 530am to pick up some other folks for the hike which fortunately we had made it to the TH by around 815am. Now all be told we had some great folks with us, the main purpose of this trip was to guide Mats from Sweden up to the top as well as our new friend Warren from Wisconsin. Both came from sea level but you could hardly tell, in fact we had named Mats “John Deere” by the summit because he hiked like a trusty old tractor, steady as she goes!

The hike went well as we took the SE route which covered 13.75 miles, 4,500′ elevation again with the summit at 14,421′ not bad for a days work. For those that are looking to hike this mountain you should definitely check out 14ers.com for beta and other trip reports. As for our experience the trail is a nice meandering route through the coniferous forests filled with Pine and Spruce and the occasional Aspen grove. As you hike yo can barely tell you are gaining elevation until right after tree line for a few switchbacks and then when you are heading to the saddle and ultimately the summit. Counting the slight bit of hail and drizzle as well as the sporadic lightening I would definitely implore others to start no later than 7 am to be safe. And remember the exposed summit ridge is no place to be in an electrical storm! Thankfully we made it to the summit with enough time to enjoy our victory PBR and snap a  few picks then bolt down the ridge to the relative safety of treeline.